Apparatus to keep pants up and shirts tucked

ABSTRACT

A device to keep pants pulled up and shirts tucked in comprising a two-part design that secures the lower torso of the shirt under the beltline. The device comprises an elastic ring and a receiver body that are constructed to capture the shirt between the elastic ring and a groove of receiver body. When the device and shirt are tucked into the pants, a second groove of receiver body is configured to rest on the lower lip of a belt of waistline. The shirt is thereby held below the belt, providing the wearer confidence in his or her appearance while participating in an active lifestyle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/939,847, filed Nov. 25, 2019.

BACKGROUND

For the well-dressed person engaging in an active lifestyle, there's nothing more important than keeping their pants pulled up and their shirt tucked in. Belts, adjustable waist bands, elastics, snaps, buttons, and zippers are among the common trappings utilized for this purpose. Prior to cinching the pants around the waist, the finishing touch is tucking the shirt into the pants to present a streamlined torso. This look stays for a few moments, but after a few exaggerated motions while giving a presentation or hailing a taxi, and the shirt mushrooms around the waist and appears disheveled.

Depending on body type, even a tightly cinched belt may not sufficiently solve the problem of holding pants up. This is often the case when the hips and butt are smaller than the waist and the clothing is not properly tailored to the body shape. Alternative approaches have included wearing a combination of inner and outer belt, wherein the first belt goes under the pants to provide extra friction and ridges around the waist, adhesive gripping tabs to be positioned around the waist, and padded underwear or shapewear, but these solution can be uncomfortable or create awkward situations.

The afore mentioned solution aid in keeping pants up, but do not necessarily address the shirt untucking issue—and some may further exasperate the issue as re-tucking becomes more difficult. The military has addressed rising shirt tails by employing a garter system that attaches the shirt end to the wearer's socks under the pants, which is highly functional, but adds requirements and limitations on the wearer's socks. Another option in practice is tucking the shirt ends into the user's underwear, which is again functional but creates an awkward situation as the underwear waistband rises over the waistline.

The solution to this two-part problem lies in a discrete method to keep the pant waistline and shirt in communication.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a double-grooved design for holding shirts tucked into pants comprising a ring and receiver body.

FIG. 2A-2G shows the double-grooved design from various viewpoints.

FIG. 3 shows the double-grooved design as independent parts comprising the ring and the receiver body.

FIG. 4 shows the ring of the double-groove design with an extended tab.

FIG. 5A shows the receiver body of the double-groove design.

FIG. 5B shows the detail of the back face of the receiver body of the double-groove design.

FIG. 5C shows detail of the front face of the receiver body of the double-groove design.

FIG. 6 shows the double-groove design attached to a shirt.

FIG. 7 shows the double-groove design positioned under a belt.

FIG. 8 shows a threaded two-piece design for holding shirts tucked into pants comprising a threaded male and female member.

FIG. 9 shows an isometric view of the interior male member of the threaded two-piece design.

FIG. 10 shows a side view of the interior male member of the threaded two-piece design.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the interior male member of the threaded two-piece design.

FIG. 12 is a top view of the interior male member of the threaded two-piece design.

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of the outer female member of the threaded two-piece design.

FIG. 14 shows a top view of the outer female member of the threaded two-piece design.

FIG. 15 shows a bottom view of the female member of the threaded two-piece design.

FIG. 16 shows the threaded two-piece design attached to a shirt.

FIG. 17 shows an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the apparatus comprising a ring and a single-grooved member.

FIG. 18 shows a side view of the single-grooved member.

FIG. 19 shows the front view of the ring of the single-grooved member.

FIG. 20 shows an isometric view of the single-grooved member and ring in a fastened position.

FIG. 21 shows side view of the single-grooved member and ring in a fastened position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is a new type of consumer accessory that serves the same function as suspenders but designed in a way that allows the accessory to remain unseen. The idea is to help consumers keep their pants up, without the use of traditional over-the-shoulder suspenders, and to hold the shirt down below the waistline. Three embodiments are presented herein which include a single and double grooved apparatus and an alternative threaded apparatus. The disclosure presents the features of each design as well as a method of use.

Double-Grooved Apparatus

As shown in FIG. 1, a two-piece double-grooved apparatus 100 comprises a grooved receiver body 150 and a ring 110. The ring 110 and grooved receiver body 150 are interlocking within a first groove and configured to entrap the continuous fabric of a shirt between them. A second groove is designed to catch the lower edge of a belt or waistband.

FIGS. 2A-2G provide various viewpoints of the double-grooved apparatus. FIG. 2A shows an upper isometric view of the double-grooved apparatus with ring and grooved receiver body. FIG. 2B shows a left view of the double-grooved apparatus with ring and grooved receiver body. FIG. 2C shows a right view of the double-grooved apparatus with ring and grooved receiver body. FIG. 2D shows a top view of the double-grooved apparatus with ring and grooved receiver body. FIG. 2E shows a bottom view of the double-grooved apparatus with ring and grooved receiver body. FIG. 2F shows a back view of the double-grooved apparatus with ring and grooved receiver body. FIG. 2G shows a front view of the double-grooved apparatus with ring and grooved receiver body. When viewed from the front (FIG. 2G) the double-grooved apparatus may be generally described as round, however, it should be understood that many of the concepts presented herein could be utilized in other geometries such oval or even as square, rectangular, hexagonal or a variety of shapes.

FIG. 3 shows the double-grooved apparatus 100 separated into the two components: the ring 110 and the receiver body 150. The directional arrows 130 indicates how the ring is attached and removed from the back of the receiver body. The ring 110 is configured to wrap around and encompass the grooved area 156, and thus, the geometry of the grooved area 156 generally conforms to the inner geometry of the ring 110. In use, the fabric of a shirt is trapped between the interior or the ring and the secured position or back groove of the receiver body.

FIG. 4 provides additional details of the ring 110. Specifically, the ring comprises a toroidal shaped body 120 and a tabbed extension 116. The toroidal body is defined as having an inner diameter 114 and an outer diameter 112, and a cross-sectional diameter D1. In the preferred embodiment, the ring 110 has an elastic property that allows it to radially expand and constrict. The elasticity provides the ring the ability to traverse over an entrapped fabric and the back rim of the receiver body 150.

The ring can operate between two states known as a stretched state and secured state. The stretched state is defined as a condition allowing the inner diameter of the ring to extend beyond the diameter of the back face of the receiver body. The secured state is defined as a condition in which the inner diameter of the ring is smaller than the diameter of the back face of the receiver body.

The tab extension or pull tab of the ring allows users to easily remove the ring from the receiver body and aids in applying the ring to the receiver body. In some embodiments, the tab extension has a series of ribs to provide friction or a grip as the tab is pulled between finger and thumb.

A side view of the receiver body 150 of the double-grooved apparatus is shown in FIG. 5A. The receiver body is defined as having a back rim 154, a middle rim 158, and a front rim 164. A first groove or back groove 156 exists between the back rim and the middle rim. A second groove or front groove 162 exists between the middle rim 158 and the front rim 164. The receiver body also has a back face 152 and a front face 160.

The front face 160 and back face 152, as shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C respectively, have a plurality of frictional members arranged on each face. As shown in FIG. 5B, the front facing frictional members 168 of the front face 160 are illustrated as an arrangement of pyramids. The front facing frictional members face the inside pant fabric and may therefore be pointed without concern. As shown in FIG. 5C, the back facing frictional members 170 on the back face 152 are shown as a series of rounded bumps. As the back facing frictional members 170 may engage with a lighter material of a shirt and pressed against the body, a less aggressive and sharp design may be used. Alternative designs may be employed for both the front facing frictional members and back facing frictional members (168 and 170) including cones, pyramids, bumps, or any variety of shapes.

The back face 152 of the receiver body is shown as generally flat. In an alternative embodiment the back face, which is in communication with the wearer's body, may have an outwardly convex or an inwardly concave outer face corresponding to the curvature a man or woman's body.

In some embodiments the ring 110 may have a cross sectional area D1 of 2 mm to 4 mm, an outer radius 112 between 8 mm and 12.5 mm, and an inner radius 114 of 5 mm to 9 mm. In some embodiments, the back groove which is designed to secure the ring may have a width (W1 of FIG. 5A) of 4 mm to 8 mm—and preferably approximately 6 mm. In some embodiments, the front groove which is designed to interface with a belt or waistband may have a width (W2 of FIG. 5A) of 4 mm to 10 mm—and preferably approximately 6 mm.

In some embodiments the back face of the receiver body is either manufactured or coated with a soft membrane such as silicon or cloth. In some embodiments, the receiver body is either manufactured or coated with a gel-like material such as santaoprene.

Double-Grooved Apparatus—Method of Use:

The double-grooved apparatus 100 includes a front groove used to interface with a belt or waistband, and a back groove which uses a ring to secure the fabric of a shirt. First, the back face of the receiver body 150 is positioned on the exterior bottom edge or lower torso area of a shirt generally corresponding to a position on the hip below the beltline. The receiver body is oriented such that the back face 152 of the receiver body is positioned towards the wearer's body. Next, the ring 110 is positioned on the interior bottom edge of the shirt corresponding with the back rim 156 of the receiver body. The ring 110 is oriented such that the inner diameter of the ring is concentric to the back rim. With the shirt positioned between the ring 110 and the back face 150 of the receiver body, pressure is applied on the ring 110 to cause the ring 110 to expand over the back rim, and constrict and settle into the back groove 156, thereby securing the shirt fabric with the ring within the back groove 156 and between the back rim 154 and middle rim 158. The result of securing the receiver body with the ring is shown in FIG. 6. with the pants folded back.

As shown in FIG. 7, the wearer then raises his pants up such that the belt 415 is positioned above the front rim 164. The belt may then be guided into the front groove 162 between the front rim 164 and middle rim 158. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus is used as a pair positioned on generally laterally opposing sides along the hip.

Threaded Apparatus

FIG. 8 shows the apparatus as an accessory 200 comprising of a two-piece design including a male member 250 and a female member 300. The male and female members engage by means of a mating interface and in some embodiments, the mating interface is characterized by a threaded design.

FIGS. 9, 10, 11, and 12 provide the upper isometric view, side view, bottom view, and top view of the male member respectively. The male member has a generally flat side 205. In some embodiments of the design, the generally flat side 205 may be curved inwardly concave to follow the curvature a man or woman's body. The male member 250 includes a piped threaded area. The piped threaded area comprises and inner diameter 215, outer diameter 220 where upon a ridged outer thread 210 resides, and a top lip 225. In the preferred embodiment, the male member 250 may include finger grips 230 along the body perimeter to aid in positioning. The dimension of L1 and L2 in the preferred embodiment is approximately 32 mm.

FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 provide a lower isometric view, top view, and bottom view of the female member respectively. The female member 300 includes a capped threaded area comprising an inner wall 330 whereupon a raised threaded ridge 305 resides. In the preferred embodiment, the inner wall has a diameter 310. The female member also includes a generally flat lower wall 315, a cap-stop 320, and an open void area 325.

The threaded interface, which comprises the threaded ridge 210 of the male member 250 and threaded ridge 305 of the female member 300, is designed to engage and interlock, but rather than a tight line-to-line fit, includes a predetermined gap between the threaded ridges 210 and 305 wherein the fabric of the shirt may reside. The gap is generally 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm in width. A similar gap exists between the diameter of the inner wall 310 of the female member 300 and the outer diameter 220 of the piped threaded area of the male member 250.

As the threaded interface is engaged by rotation of the female member 300 relative to the male member 250, the female member receives the male member until a point wherein the top lip 225 of the male member comes in communication with the cap-stop 320 of the female member 300. Any further rotation causes the gap between the threaded ridges of the male and female members to decrease and constrict on the fabric positioned within the threaded interface. In the preferred embodiment, the threaded interface has a course interlocking thread such that the male member is fully engaged within the female member in less than 720° rotation.

Threaded Apparatus—Method of Use:

FIG. 16 shows the threaded apparatus positioned on a shirt 405 with the waistline of the pants pulled down (i.e. showing the inside flap of the pants flipped open). The threaded apparatus 200 is used to provide a subtle ridge that the pants waistline can rest on, possibly with the assistance of a belt. The following description outlines how to create the ridge. First, the male member 250 is positioned on the interior bottom edge of a shirt 405 generally corresponding to a position on the hip below the beltline. The male member 250 is oriented such that the flat surface of the male member is against the wearer's body and the threaded portion protrudes laterally. Next, the female member 300 is positioned on the exterior bottom edge of the shirt 405 corresponding with the male member. The female member 300 is oriented to axially receive the threaded portion of the male member 250. With the shirt 405 positioned between the mating sections, pressure is applied to the female member 300 to engage the threaded area of the male and female members. The female member 300 is rotated as to capture the shirt fabric 405 between the threaded area and secure the male and female member together with the results shown in FIG. 16. The wearer 400 then raises his pants 410 up such that the belt 415 is positioned above the ridge created by the threated apparatus 200. FIG. 16 illustrates the positioning of the threaded apparatus 200 positioned below the user's belt 415. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus is used as a pair positioned on generally laterally opposing sides along the hip as shown.

Single Grooved Apparatus

As shown in FIG. 17, the two-piece grooved apparatus 500 comprises the grooved member 520 and the ring 510. Like the double-grooved apparatus, the ring 510 and grooved member 520 are interlocking and configured to entrap the fabric of a shirt between them.

The ring 510 is generally toroidal shaped having an inner diameter 514 and an outer diameter 512, as shown in FIG. 19, and a cross-sectional diameter L4, as shown on FIG. 21. In some embodiments, the ring 510 has an elastic property that allows it to radially expand and constrict. The ring with the extended tab shown in the double groove design may also be used with this single groove design.

In one embodiment, the grooved member 520 comprises two opposing partial hemispheres 525 and 530 connected by a grooved area 545 as shown in FIG. 18. The first hemisphere 530 has a perimetric radius 540, and the second hemisphere 525 has a perimetric radius 535. In some embodiments, the perimetric radius 535 of the second hemisphere 525 is larger than the perimetric radius 540 of the first hemisphere 530. In some embodiments, the perimetric radius of the first and second hemispheres 535 and 540 are equal. In some embodiment, both perimetric radii 535 and 540 are larger than the inner diameter 514 of the ring 510.

A grooved area 545 exists between the first and second hemispheres 530 and 525. The ring 510 is configured to wrap around and encompass the grooved area 545, and thus, the geometry of the grooved area 545 generally corresponds to the inner geometry of the ring 510.

In an alternative embodiment the second hemisphere, which is in communication with the wearer's body, may have a generally flat or inwardly concave outer face corresponding to the curvature a man or woman's body—as opposed to the convex face 525.

FIGS. 20 and 21 show the grooved apparatus 500 with the ring 510 in the grooved area 545 of the grooved member 520. In some embodiments, a fillet perpendicular to the perimetric radius of the first and second hemispheres 530 and 525 may exist to aid in removing the ring 510 from the grooved area 545.

In some embodiments the ring 510 may have a cross sectional area L4 of 1 mm to 3 mm, an outer radius 512 between 8 mm and 12.5 mm, and an inner radius 514 of 5 mm to 9 mm. In some embodiments, the grooved member has a thickness L3 of 4 mm to 8 mm—and preferably approximately 6 mm.

In some embodiments the outer face of the second hemisphere 525 is either manufactured or coated with a soft membrane such as silicon or cloth. In an alternative embodiment the outer face of the first hemisphere and second hemisphere may have a plurality of frictional members arranged on each face similar to the double-groove design. Frictional members may include cones, pyramids, bumps, or any variety of shapes.

Single Grooved Apparatus—Method of Use:

Similar to the double-grooved apparatus, the single grooved apparatus 500 is used to provide a subtle ridge that the pants waistline can rest on, possibly with the assistance of a belt. The following description outlines how to create the ridge. First, the grooved member 520 is positioned on either the interior or exterior bottom edge or lower torso area of a shirt generally corresponding to a position on the hip below the beltline. The grooved member 520 is oriented such that the larger convex surface 525 of grooved member is positioned against the wearer's body. Next, the ring 510 is positioned on the opposite side (either exterior or interior) bottom edge of the shirt corresponding with the smaller convex surface 530 of the grooved member 520. The ring 510 is oriented such that the inner radium 514 is parallel to the groove 545 of the groove member 520. With the shirt positioned between the ring 510 and the smaller convex surface 530 of the grooved member 520, pressure is applied on the ring 510 to cause the ring 510 to expand over the smaller outer radius 540 of the grooved member 520, and constrict and settle into the groove 545, thereby securing the shirt fabric within the groove 545 between the grooved member 520 and the ring 510. The wearer then raises his pants up such that the belt is positioned above the ridge created by the grooved apparatus 500. Like the double-grooved apparatus shown in FIG. 7, the single-grooved apparatus 100 positioned below the user's belt. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus is used as a pair positioned on generally laterally opposing sides along the hip. 

What is claimed is: 1) A shirt holder utilized by a user to keep a lower torso of a shirt made of a fabric tucked into a pair of pants, wherein the pair of pants are cinched around the user's waist by a belt, the device comprising: an elastic ring and a receiver body wherein the receiver body is generally cylindrical having a distal face and a proximal face defined by a diameter at opposing ends of the cylinder, and a pair of grooves on the cylindrical surface comprising a proximal groove and distal groove; wherein the pair of grooves are circular and generally concentric to the axis of the cylinder; wherein the elastic ring has an inner diameter and can exist in a stretched state and secure state, the stretched state defined as a condition enabling the inner diameter of the ring to extend beyond the diameter of the proximal face, and a secured state defined as a condition in which the inner diameter of the ring is smaller than the diameter of the proximal face; and wherein the proximal groove is configured to hold a continuous section of the fabric of the shirt within the groove by the elastic ring in the secured state. 2) The shirt holder of claim 1, wherein the proximal groove of the receiver body is bounded by a proximal rim and a middle rim, and the distal groove of the receiver body is bounded by the middle rim and a distal rim. 3) The shirt holder of claim 1, wherein the proximal face includes a plurality of rounded frictional elements which are configured to be in communication with the fabric of the shirt and aid in securing the shirt against the proximal face of the receiver body. 4) The shirt holder of claim 1, wherein the distal face includes a plurality of pointed frictional elements which are configured to be in communication with the pants and aid in securing the distal face of the receiver body against the pants. 5) The shirt holder of claim 1, wherein the belt has a lower edge and the distal grove of the receiver body is configured to be in communication with the lower edge of the belt to aid in securing the receiver body below the belt. 6) The shirt holder of claim 1, wherein the proximal grove has a diameter, the distal grove has a diameter, and the diameter of the proximal groove is larger than the diameter of the distal groove. 7) The shirt holder of claim 1, wherein the receiver body is coat with a soft membrane. 8) The shirt holder of claim 1, wherein the ring further comprises a pull tab extending outward from the edge of the ring. 9) The shirt holder of claim 8, wherein the pull tab includes a series of laterally oriented ribs configured to provide friction for the user when traversing from the secured state to the stretched state. 10) A shirt holder utilized by a user to keep a lower torso of a shirt made of a fabric tucked into a pair of pants, wherein the pair of pants are cinched around the user's waist by a belt, the device comprising: an elastic ring and a receiver body wherein the receiver body is generally cylindrical having a distal face having a diameter and a proximal face having a diameter at opposing ends of the cylinder, and a continuous groove on the cylindrical surface that is generally concentric to the axis of the cylinder; wherein the elastic ring has an inner diameter and can exist in a stretched state and secure state, the stretched state defined as a condition enabling the inner diameter of the ring to extend beyond the diameter of the proximal face, and a secured state defined as a condition in which the inner diameter of the ring is smaller than the diameter of the proximal face; and wherein the groove is configured to hold a continuous section of the fabric of the shirt within the groove by the elastic ring in the secured state. 11) The shirt holder of claim 10, wherein the groove of the receiver body is bounded between a proximal rim and a distal rim. 12) The shirt holder of claim 10, wherein the proximal face includes a plurality of rounded frictional elements which are configured to be in communication with the fabric of the shirt and aid in securing the shirt against the proximal face of the receiver body. 13) The shirt holder of claim 10, wherein the distal face includes a plurality of pointed frictional elements which are configured to be in communication with the pants and aid in securing the distal face of the receiver body against the pants. 14) The shirt holder of claim 10, wherein the belt has a lower edge and the receiver body is configured to be in communication with the lower edge of the belt to aid in securing the receiver body below the belt. 15) The shirt holder of claim 10, wherein the diameter of the distal face is smaller than the diameter of the proximal face. 16) The shirt holder of claim 10, wherein the diameter of the distal face is larger than the diameter of the proximal face. 17) The shirt holder of claim 10, wherein the diameter of the distal face is equal to the diameter of the proximal face. 18) The shirt holder of claim 10, wherein the receiver body is coat with a soft membrane. 